Fetus for ransom? Woman asks for $1 million, or she’ll abort

(RNS) An online offer to call off an abortion in exchange for $1 million has disgusted and fascinated people on both sides of the abortion debate.

The deal, described on a website, www.prolifeantiwoman.com, and written in an anonymous woman’s voice, accuses abortion opponents of caring more about oppressing women than saving fetuses.

Titled “How much would you pay to stop an abortion?” the writer challenges the nation’s “127 million Americans that identify as pro-life” to give less than a penny each to save an unborn child.

“The backward direction this country is headed in terms of its treatment of women I feel is due in large part to the influence of the religious right disguised as the pro-life movement,” reads the one-page post.

The purportedly pregnant writer gives potential donors 72 hours — the same amount of time a woman must wait in some states before getting an abortion. The author promises that if $1 million is raised, she will put the baby up for adoption and reserve the $1 million for the offspring in a trust fund.

“I’ll keep none of the money for myself so if I am to be vilified in this process, it can’t be for that. If the one million dollar goal is not met by the end of those 72 hours, any and all donations received will be refunded and I will have an abortion that I have already scheduled for July 10th in my home state,” the post continues.